The Gai Waterhouse-trained Travolta has been a notable early firmer in Mornington Cup betting despite having a big weight and the outside barrier.
Travolta, one of two Waterhouse-trained runners in the $350,000 Mornington Cup (2400m), opened on the third line of betting at $6.50 in the fixed odds market on Monday but quickly firmed to $4.60.
The Darren Weir-trained Prince Of Penzance opened the $2.90 favourite to add Wednesday’s Mornington Cup to his Prelude win last start.
The winner of the Mornington Cup also earns an automatic entry into the $3 million Caulfield Cup in October.
Travolta has 60kg, five kilograms more than his nearest rival, and the widest gate in the field of 12 with Nash Rawiller to ride.
The stayer won the Listed Australia Day Cup in Sydney at his most recent start and will be joined in Wednesday’s race by stablemate Laidback Larry.
Laidback Larry won the first three starts of his campaign in impressive fashion in lower grades before finishing fifth as favourite in the Mornington Cup Prelude.
Travolta is on the fourth line of betting at $10 with the New Zealand TAB for the Auckland Cup on March 5.
Formerly trained in New Zealand, Travolta finished fourth in the 2012 Group Two Avondale Guineas and an unlucky sixth in the New Zealand Derby, both won by Silent Achiever.
Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller also has two representatives at Mornington with He’s Your Man to be ridden by Craig Williams while Craig Newitt switches to Instrumentalist.
The Cup program includes the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1100m) and the $250,000 Inglis Premier (1200m) for two-year-olds.
Richie’s Vibe is the headline entry among the field of 15 and one emergency in the Hareeba.
The Tony Vasil-trained Richie’s Vibe, who has 60kg, scored the biggest win of his career last start when he chased down subsequent C F Orr Stakes winner Moment Of Change in the Group Two Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley on January 24.
The Inglis Premier has attracted a field of 12 and has been won in the past two years by subsequent Group winners Snitzerland and Twilight Royale.
– AAP